The F-22 isn't even obsolete, I don't blame them for cutting funding, they have all the F-22's they need, not one has been shot down, NOT ONE. It's an amazing piece of technology and will be in use for a long long time.

But the movieverse requires everyone to be the newest and most up to date (well at least autobots need to be big shiney, even though that attracts more attention but whatever) so who knows what the "new hottness" will be for Starscream.

Of course I was hanging out with friends who were talking about their 'dream cars' which were all cars from the 80s. And I mentioned that I don't have a dream car but I could name what robots had their dream cars as alt modes.

The F-22 isn't even obsolete, I don't blame them for cutting funding, they have all the F-22's they need, not one has been shot down, NOT ONE. It's an amazing piece of technology and will be in use for a long long time.

Click to expand...

They haven't been shot down, no, but the F-22 is notorious for requiring constant critical maintenance (requiring critical maintenance on average every 1.7 hours of flight), as well as tons of, shall we say, quirks, in the design.

For example, if the F-22 flies during rain, its "Stealth" profile is drastically increased. Similarly, if the surface is abraised, by, say, continued exposure to blowing sand, its stealthiness drops. Even the special stealth canopy must be replaced every 18 months.

Theres also an incident involving F-22s crossing the international dateline, only to have their computer systems crash, making the plane nearly unflyable.

There's also rumors of production problems with the wings, which could lead to catastrophic loss of the aircraft, swept under the rug by contractors.

And also, keep in mind that the F-22 has never been used in a situation where it has come up against other modern fighters, or even sophisticated anti-air weaponry. So there's a reason they haven't been shot down. The F-18s used much more frequently in Iraq and Afghanistan are rarely shot down either.

But in terms of Starscream, I doubt they'll change his alt mode, as the F-22 will likely still be in service for some time.

I think, after displaying his Cybertronian tattoos in this one, he should get a new alt mode regardless of real life status of the Raptor.

Click to expand...

At this point I don't think Starscream really cares who sees those Tattoos on his Vehicle Mode. He seems to wear them as either a symbol of pride for his race or the Decepticons. If anyone were to see him they know they should fear him. And I do believe that's what Starscream is aiming for mainly, to strike fear into his enemies.

Why does it matter? Seriously, the Autobots are obviously for the most part walking, talking advertisements for GM (thus why Jolt was even in the film, to promote the Volt alt mode he has), while the Decepticons, for the most part, are just there to look SCARY, not be advetisment. I mean, seriously, who's gonna be influenced by the movie to go buy an actual super-expensive figher aircraft? Or a full-size Cement Mixer? Or even a giant friggin Excavator?

Right now, the only TF's who really have alt. mode issues are Ironhide and Ratchet, since their alt. modes are done being produced, but I highly doubt they will scan new forms as that would require massive tweaking of the CGI models, something that's very buget and time consuming (why else did they simply use a slightly modified Blackout model as the new character "Grindor"?)

I wouldn't put it so much as 'need', but at this point I'd still 'like' for him to get a new one, along with a good deal of the Transformer cast. From the movie point of view his cover is blown, albeit by command of a superior officer, but should subterfuge be required at a later point (ie, the next film) an alien tattoo'd F-22 wouldn't be suitable. But that's one 'in story' way to look at it, another being...

At this point I don't think Starscream really cares who sees those Tattoos on his Vehicle Mode. He seems to wear them as either a symbol of pride for his race or the Decepticons. If anyone were to see him they know they should fear him. And I do believe that's what Starscream is aiming for mainly, to strike fear into his enemies.

Click to expand...

..which negates the issue of disguise from that particular standpoint. After all, wasn't a big gripe among some during production of the first flick that faction symbols weren't prominently displayed?

Yet I'd care to look at it from the point of view of the manufacturer. Sure, Hasbro put most of the command in Bay's idea for the first film, but at this point they surely must look at it from the toy angle. I mean I know our fandom has those that will buy whatever is put on the shelves (for every TF fan that won't buy 'that', there's another who likely will), but am I the only one that thinks after original released Bayformers Starscream, Deep Space Starscream, original G1 colors Starscream, a Thundercracker repaint, a Skywarp repaint, a Ramjet repaint, Premium Starscream, and now RotF Tat'd Starscream (all with only a head mold and one of either sets of hands between them) that maybe a new toy is in order? Perhaps a purely, Earth-skin-shed, Cybertronian Starscream? A more jet-like version of the 'Protoform/Entry' Starscream (for example only)? I mean, it would pretty much have to be something like that if they came up with a new toy for him, right? How can you top the F-22 in Earth vehicle terms, after all.

And I extend this notion to the other Transformers. I know lines like Spiderman or the Fantastic Four n'such are limited in ways on their ability to vary a character's toy, having to add little add-on weapons, different colored costumes, molds that are different but blatantly the same character. Transformers takes this limitation other lines have and runs with it. The other colors are 'repaints' that can become new characters entirely with nothing more than a bio, the add-on weapons built into their designs, and the new molds/costumes new alt modes all together.

We know, as fans, new & highly differing molds (after repaints) are the norm for this line, and in-story of the movie the Transformers are shown to be able to change an alt mode (changing the robot mode in the process) in the literal blink of an eye. I'm just wishing they would go full force with that for what's likely to be the third & final installment of the Bayformers trilogy. Give Screamers something new, he needs it. Ironhide, Ratchet, they certainly need that kind of treatment. Sideswipe's got two toys for him in this line alone, methinks he might take on something new.

Same could be said for the others just because they've shown up & been sold. Old molds could be used as repaints, natch, the way Swerve & Smokescreen are. I wouldn't suggest nixing the semi for Prime because of (A) the fanrage that would ensue would be epic & (B) what else are you going to turn him into? Perhaps a new Leader Class with a trailer to combine with this time? 3RD Movie Installment Powermaster Prime, so to speak? (Please don't anyone bring up practicality on that, since when is that a factor?). Or I guess they could just run with all Cybertronian modes...LOL.

...I highly doubt they will scan new forms as that would require massive tweaking of the CGI models, something that's very buget and time consuming (why else did they simply use a slightly modified Blackout model as the new character "Grindor"?)

Click to expand...

Sure, funds earned (and still being earned) by this sequel might warrant a budget for tweaks, changes, and perhaps all out new renderings for any given character, but would they actually do it? I won't say it's impossible, but maybe a tad improbable.